Antennaria flagellaris is a North American species of flowering plants in the daisy family known by the common names whip pussytoes and stoloniferous pussytoes. It is native primarily to the Great Basin and Columbia Plateau regions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and northern Nevada (Elko County), where it is a member of the sagebrush scrub plant community. Additional populations are found in northeastern California (Lassen + Modoc Counties), Wyoming (Park + Teton Counties), the Black Hills of South Dakota (Custer County), and the Canadian Province of British Columbia. Antennaria flagellaris is a petite perennial herb forming a thin patch on the ground no more than 2 centimeters high. It grows from a slender caudex and spreads via thin, wiry, cobwebby stolons. The woolly grayish leaves are one to two centimeters long and generally lance-shaped. The tiny inflorescence holds a single flower head less than a centimeter wide. The species is dioecious, with male plants producing only staminate flowers and female plants producing only pistillate flowers. The fruit is a bumpy achene up to a centimeter long including its long, soft pappus.

Antennaria geyeri is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name pinewoods pussytoes or mountain pussytoes. It is native to the western United States where it grows in woodland and scrub very often on the forest floor under pine trees. It is found in Washington, Oregon, northern California, and northwestern Nevada. Antennaria geyeri is a small perennial herb growing up to about 14 centimeters tall. It produces several erect stems from a branching, woody base, and there is no basal rosette of leaves. The leaves along the stem are lance-shaped, a few centimeters long, and coated in long woolly hairs. The inflorescence bears up to 25 flower heads with coats of woolly white fibers and pink-tipped phyllaries. The species is dioecious, with male plants bearing staminate flowers in their heads and female plants bearing pistillate. The fruit is a hairy achene up to a centimeter long including its long, soft pappus.

Antennaria howellii (Everlasting or Howell's Pussytoes) is a North American species in the genus Antennaria within the sunflower family. It is native to northern Alaska, much of Canada including the Arctic territories, and the northern United States as far south as northern California, Colorado and North Carolina. Antennaria howellii is an evergreen perennial plant. The form is usually basal rosettes, largely clonally propagated. The basal rosette leaves are 2-4 cm long and 6-12 mm broad, light green and spatulate, with a thin arm and a broad tip with a point. They have woolly white undersides. The flowerheads appear in May, on a stem 15-35 cm tall with smaller, slender leaves 1-4 cm long. It is commonly seen growing under pine stands.

Antennaria luzuloides is a North American species of flowering plants in the daisy family known by the common name rush pussytoes. The species is native to western Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the western United States (Oregon, Washington, northern California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and a few isolated populations in South Dakota). Antennaria luzuloides is a perennial herb growing greenish white or gray erect stems from a small woody caudex. It reaches a maximum height of about 25 centimeters. There is a basal patch of grayish woolly leaves each a few centimeters long and linear in shape to somewhat spoon-shaped. The inflorescence holds up to 30 rounded flower heads each less than a centimeter wide. The head is lined with narrow, pointed phyllaries. The species is dioecious, with male and female plants producing different flower types. The fruit is an achene up to about 6 millimeters in length including a long, soft pappus.

Antennaria media is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Rocky Mountain pussytoes. It is native to western North America from Alaska and northwestern Canada to California to New Mexico, where it grows in cold regions such as the alpine climate of high mountains. This is a perennial herb forming a matted patch of stolons and woolly basal leaves with flower clusters no more than about 13 centimeters tall. The flower clusters contain several flower heads. The species is dioecious, with male and female plants producing flower heads of slightly different morphologies. The fruit is an achene up to about 6 millimeters long, most of which is the long, soft pappus. There are several subspecies; one subspecies is diploid and reproduces sexually and the others are polyploid and display apomixis.

Littleleaf Pussytoes (Antennaria microphylla) is a native perennial herb that grows in central and northern California. It is fast growing and short-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 1 foot, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and bloom in the mid spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-15000 feet.

Antennaria pulchella is a North American species of flowering plants in the daisy family known by the common names Sierra pussytoes and beautiful pussytoes. It is native primarily to high elevations in the Sierra Nevada from Nevada County to Tulare County, where it is a plant of the alpine climate. Additional populations occur on Lassen Peak in Lassen County, and also in Washoe County, Nevada. Antennaria pulchella is a small, mat-forming perennial herb growing a patch of woolly grayish leaves dotted with purplish glands. It spreads via a tangled network of stolons. The erect inflorescence reaches no more than about 12 centimeters tall. The species is dioecious, with male and female plants producing flower heads of slightly different morphologies. The fruit is an achene up to half a centimeter long, most of which is a long, soft pappus. Antennaria pulchella is a small, mat-forming perennial herb growing a patch of woolly grayish leaves dotted with purplish glands. It spreads via a tangled network of stolons. The erect inflorescence reaches no more than about 12 centimeters tall. The species is dioecious, with male and female plants producing flower heads of slightly different morphologies. The fruit is an achene up to half a centimeter long, most of which is a long, soft pappus.

Antennaria racemosa is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name racemose pussytoes. It is native to western North America from British Columbia and Alberta south as far as northern California and Wyoming. It grows in mountain forests, generally in moist, partially shaded areas, and often colonizes bare patches of mineral-rich soil, including disturbed areas. Antennaria racemosa is a glandular perennial herb which may be small, woolly, and matted to nearly hairless and erect to heights near 50 cm (20 inches). It forms basal patches of oval-shaped leaves 3 to 10 centimeters long, fuzzy on the undersides and shiny green above. The patches are connected with stolons covered in leaves. The erect stem bears an inflorescence which can be shaped like a raceme and is often dense, especially in higher elevations, containing several flower heads. The species is dioecious, with male and female plants producing different types of flowers in the heads. The fruit is an achene with a body only about a millimeter long attached to a soft pappus up to 7 millimeters long. The pappus catches the wind, which disperses the seed. The plant also reproduces vegetatively via its creeping stolons.

Antennaria rosea is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name rosy pussytoes. It is native to much of North America, including most of Canada and the western United States. It is a plant of many habitats, from dry to wet climates and low elevation to very high. It is a very morphologically diverse species; individuals can look very different. It is polyploid and exhibits apomixis; most all the plants are female and they reproduce asexually. This is a perennial herb which grows to heights anywhere between about 10 and 40 centimeters. It has a network of short stolons by which it spreads, its method of vegetative reproduction. It forms a basal patch of woolly grayish leaves 1 to 4 centimeters long. The flower cluster contains several flower heads in a cluster. Each head is lined with wide, pointed phyllaries which are often rose in color, the trait that gives the species its name, but they may also be white, yellowish, or brownish. The species is dioecious, but since most of the individuals are female, most bear flower heads containing pistillate flowers. The fruit is an achene with a body less than 2 millimeters long and a pappus which may be 6 or 7 millimeters long. The plant often produces fertile seeds, but most individuals in most populations are clones. Plants are sometimes fertilized with pollen from other Antennaria species, which may bring new genes into an A. rosea population, increasing the genetic diversity amongst the clones.

Antennaria suffrutescens is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names evergreen pussytoes and evergreen everlasting. It is native to southwestern Oregon (Curry + Josephine Counties) and far northeastern California (Humboldt + Del Norte Counties). It grows in coniferous forests in the mountains, sometimes on serpentine soils. Antennaria suffrutescens is a perennial herb producing several erect stems up to about 12 centimeters tall from a woody base. The densely packed leaves at the base of the plant are spoon-shaped with notched tips, woolly on the undersides and about a centimeter long. They are evergreen, remaining on the plant through the seasons. The inflorescence atop each stem bears a single flower head lined with woolly white phyllaries with yellow-green bases. The species is dioecious, meaning that male and female flower heads are borne on separate plants. Female plants bearing slightly larger flower heads containing pistillate flowers, and male plants producing staminate flowers. The fruit is an achene up to a centimeter long, most of which is a long pappus attached to a small hard body.

Antennaria umbrinella is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names umber pussytoes and brown pussytoes. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to the Sierra Nevada and southern Rocky Mountains. This is a perennial herb growing erect stems to a maximum height around 16 centimeters from a woody base with spreading stolons. The base is covered in woolly leaves each one to two centimeters long and lance-shaped to spoon-shaped. Each flower cluster holds several flower heads with fuzzy phyllaries which are whitish to brown in color. The plant is dioecious, with males and females producing different flower types in the heads. The fruit is an achene with a hard body 2 millimeters long and a long pappus of hairs up to 5 millimeters long.

Hierochloe odorata or Anthoxanthum nitens, also known as sweet grass, buffalo grass, bison grass, holy grass (UK), manna grass, Mary's grass, seneca grass, sweetgrass, or vanilla grass, is an aromatic herb which grows in northern Eurasia and in North America. It is used in herbal medicine and in the production of distilled beverages (e.g., ubrwka, Wisent). It owes its distinctive sweet scent to the presence of coumarin. Very hardy perennial. Native to North America as well as Europe. Grows to about 60 centimeter (24 inches) in height, leaves grow 60 centimeter (24 inches) long by late summer. Bases of leaves, just below soil surface are broad and white, without hairs, underside of leaves are shiny, without hairs.

Hierochloe occidentalis is a species of grass known by the common name California sweetgrass. It is a close relative of the more widely known sweet grass. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California, where it grows in the coniferous forests of the coastal mountain ranges. This is a rhizomatous perennial grass with leaves up to 30 centimeters long and 1.5 wide. The stem reaches a meter in height with an flower cluster of 7 to 10 centimeters. The spikelets grow on short, wavy stalks and each has three florets with long, protruding stamens during flowering.

Antirrhinum cornutum (syn. Sairocarpus cornutus) is an uncommon species of New World snapdragon known by the common name spurred snapdragon. It is endemic to northern California, where it grows in the inland mountains and the northern reaches of the Central Valley. This is an annual herb producing hairy, erect, non-climbing stems. Solitary flowers grow in the leaf axils along the stem. Each hairy-lipped snapdragon flower is purple-veined white and about a centimeter long.

Antirrhinum coulterianum (syn. Sairocarpus coulterianus) is a species of New World snapdragon known by the common name Coulter's snapdragon. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in desert shrublands and in the coastal hills and mountains, especially in areas that have recently burned. This is an annual herb producing an erect stem which often clings to objects or other plants for support. It is mostly hairless, except for the flower cluster at the top, which can be quite woolly. Leaves are sparse and generally linear and there is often a basal rosette of leaves at the base of the stem; this is the only Antirrhinum that forms such a rosette. The top of the mostly naked stem is occupied by a raceme flower cluster of white snapdragon flowers, which are often tinted with lavender or pink, especially when newly opened. Each flower is about a centimeter wide.

Antirrhinum filipes (syn. Neogaerrhinum filipes) is a species of New World snapdragon known by the common name yellow twining snapdragon. It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This is a hairless annual herb growing long, thin, vinelike stems which climb on objects, including other plants, for support. The inflorescence is composed of a tendril-like pedicel which may be up to 10 centimeters long and coils tightly to help the plant climb. At its tip is a single snapdragon flower which is bright yellow to gold in color, dotted with dark red, and just over a centimeter long.

Antirrhinum kelloggii (syn. Neogaerrhinum strictum) is a species of New World snapdragon known by the common name Kellogg's snapdragon. It is native to the coastal hills and mountain ranges of California and Baja California, where it grows in many local plant communities, especially in areas that have recently burned. This is a thin, sprawling annual herb which sometimes becomes vine-like, climbing nearby objects or other plants. The inflorescence consists of a solitary flower on a very long, strongly coiling pedicel up to 9 centimeters long. The flower at the tip is a dark-veined purple snapdragon over a centimeter wide. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule containing many bumpy seeds.

Antirrhinum multiflorum (syn. Sairocarpus multiflorus) is a species of New World snapdragon known by the common name Sierra snapdragon. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the central Coast Ranges, the Transverse Ranges, and one section of the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows on lower-elevation mountain slopes and springs up in disturbed and recently burned areas. This is an annual or perennial herb producing a hairy, erect stem which often has a woody base. It does not cling or climb like some other snapdragon species. Small, pointed leaves are arranged alternately about the tall stem. The raceme flower cluster occupies the top of the stem with many pink or red snapdragon flowers between one and two centimeters long each.

Antirrhinum nuttallianum is a species of New World snapdragon in the Plantaginaceae family known by the common names Nuttall's Snapdragon. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it can be found from the immediate coastline to the inland coastal ranges. This is an annual or biennial herb producing an erect, vinelike stem which sometimes clings to objects for support, but does not twine as tightly as many other snapdragons. The flowers are veined light purple with white patches and around a centimeter long. Each is borne on a short pedicel.

Nuttall's Snapdragon (Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. nuttallianum) is a native annual or perennial herb that grows in Southern California, primarily in the South Coast, the Transverse Range and Peninsular Range regions. It tends to grow in dunes and rocky or disturbed or recently burned places, at elevations from 0-4300 feet.

Antirrhinum virga (syn. Sairocarpus virga) is a species of New World snapdragon known by the common name tall snapdragon. It is endemic to the North Coast Ranges of northern California, where it grows in rocky chaparral, sometimes on serpentine soils. This is a hairless perennial herb producing erect, non-climbing stems from a woody caudex. The inflorescence is a raceme atop the stem filled loosely with pink snapdragon flowers. Each flower is between one and two centimeters long.

Apocynum androsaemifolium (Fly-trap dogbane, Spreading dogbane) is a flowering plant in the Gentianales order. The plant is common in North America, and is widespread across most of the United States and Canada, and in Alaska, California, and Northeast Mexico. Apocynum androsaemifolium has branching stems, hairs on the underside of the leaves, and no hair on the stems. Milky sap appears on broken stems. Leaf margin is entire and leaf venation is alternate. Its leaves appear as pointed ovals, while its flowers appear terminally on a stalk. The plant is poisonous, due to the cardiac glycosides it contains. Subspecies and Varieties: Subspecies and varieties include: Apocynum androsaemifolium subsp. androsaemifolium - E Canada, W United StatesApocynum androsaemifolium var. griseum (Greene) Bég. & Belosersky - Ontario, British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Indiana, MichiganApocynum androsaemifolium var. incanum A. DC. - widespread in Canada, United States, NE MexicoApocynum androsaemifolium var. intermedium Woodson - ColoradoApocynum androsaemifolium subsp. pumilum (A. Gray) B. Boivin - British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, California, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, NevadaApocynum androsaemifolium var. tomentellum (Greene) B. Boivin - British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, California, NevadaApocynum androsaemifolium var. woodsonii B. Boivin - Alberta, British Columbia, Washington State, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho

Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) is a perennial herb in the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family native across much of North America. It typically grows in open, sunny areas such as streambanks, roadsides, and meadows, especially in moist or seasonally wet soils. As the common name suggests, dogbane is toxic to dogs, livestock, and humans if ingested.

The plant has upright stems that can reach 3 to 5 feet tall and produce clusters of small, pale greenish-white to pink flowers in summer. The leaves are opposite and lance-shaped. Dogbane has a milky sap which can cause blisters if handled without gloves, and spreads aggressively through rhizomes. Traditionally, Indigenous communities use the strong fibers from its stems to make cordage, nets, and other items—hence the name “Indianhemp.”

This plant is useful in restoration and pollinator gardens, as it supports native bees, butterflies, and other insects. However, it can be too vigorous for small garden spaces.

Aquilegia eximia is a species of columbine known by the common name Van Houtte's columbine. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the moist forests of the Coast Ranges. This is a perennial herb growing from a thick caudex and varying in height, reaching a maximum height near 5 feet. The lower leaves are divided into large, leaflike segments up to 1.5 to 2 inches long and a lobed oval in shape. Leaves farther up the stem are not segmented but may be deeply lobed. The flower cluster bears a large, nodding columbine flower. Each flower has five bright red to orange-red flat sepals up to 1 inch long, and five petals which are hollow spurs 0.5 to 1.5 inches long, bright orange-red on the outer surface and lighter orange to yellow inside. The mouth of each hollow petal tube is up to a centimeter wide. The sepals and petals are generally reflexed back toward the stem and the five pistils and many thin stamens extend forward from the center of the flower.

The Western Columbine is also known as the Red or Crimson Columbine because of its attractive red-and-yellow-colored flowers. The blooms are very appealing to hummingbirds. Mature seedheads provide food for finches and other bird species.

This charming wildflower is a member of the buttercup family and grows in moist, shady locations. In the garden, it likes regular water, partial shade, and compost-rich, well-draining soil. It does self-sow, but deadheading will control spreading.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Garden selection of stream side species (Aquilegia formosa).

Aquilegia pubescens is a species of columbine known by the common names Sierra Columbine and Coville's Columbine. It is sometimes called "yellow columbine", but this properly refers to A. flavescens. This wildflower is endemic to California, where it is a resident of the High Sierra. It is found in alpine and subalpine climates. This leafy columbine rarely reaches half a meter in height. The showy flowers are usually erect rather than drooping and are up to a centimeter wide at the mouth. The flower spurs may be up to 4 centimeters long. The sepals and petals are generally yellow, less often white or pink. The Sierra columbine may hybridize with the Crimson Columbine (A. formosa).

Arabis blepharophylla is a species of rock cress known by the common names coast rock cress and rose rock cress. It is endemic to California, growing mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area and nearby low-elevation coast ranges. It is uncommon in the wild but is often grown as an attractive, sweet-scented flowering garden plant. The plant sends up thin, hairy stems from a basal rosette of fuzzy leaves. It bears small flowers with four bright purplish-pink petals. There are several cultivars bred for garden use. Often short lived in gardens.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Arabis hirsuta, known as hairy rock-cress, is a flowering plant of the genus Arabis in the family Brassicaceae. In previous North American works, it has been broadly defined to include plants native to Europe, Asia, and the northern half of North America, but is now more often restricted to a narrower subgroup restricted to Europe. This erect, 15-60 cm (6-18 inches) high hairy plant is usually unbranched, with a long spike of flowers. Lower leaves form a rosette, the stalkless upper-leaves clasp the stem. The white petals are twice as long as the sepals, flowers June-August. The fruits are cylindrical and pressed close to the stem and the slightly winged seeds are reddish brown. The hairs are stiff and forking,. The species grows on chalk slopes, dunes, hedgebanks, walls and rocks.

Holboell's Rock Cress (Arabis holboellii) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and short-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 2 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are purple and striking, and bloom in the mid spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 1600-11500 feet.

Oregon Rockcress (Arabis oregana) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast, the Klamath Mountain Range and North Coast Range regions.

Arabis pycnocarpa, the slender rock cress, is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family. It is native to North America and eastern Asia, being found in rocky, calcareous areas. It is a small perennial or biennial that has white flowers in the spring. Two varieties have been named that are distinguished by pubescence differences:

Aralia californica, known by the common name elk clover though not actually a clover, is a large herb in the family Araliaceae, the only member of that family native to California and southwestern Oregon. It is a deciduous herbaceous perennial plant growing to a height of 2-3 meters on stems which are thick but not woody. The stems bear large green pinnate or bipinnate leaves 1-2 meters long and 1 meter broad, the leaflets 15-30 centimeter long and 7-15 centimeter broad. The greenish white flowers are produced in large, ball-shaped compound umbels 30-45 centimeter diameter at the stem tip; each star-shaped flower is 2-3 millimeter diameter, and matures to small (3-5 millimeter) dark purple or black fruit, each berry containing 3-5 seeds. This plant performs best under trees or in other moist, shady areas.

The Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is also known as the Madroo, Madroa, Bearberry, or Strawberry Tree, or simply referred to as Arbutus. It is a broadleaf evergreen tree with rich orange-red bark that peels away on the mature wood, leaving a greenish, silvery appearance that has a satin sheen and smoothness. The exposed wood sometimes feels cool to the touch. In spring, it bears sprays of small bell-like flowers, and in autumn, red berries.

Plant in a shady or partially shaded location, and avoid direct summer water. It prefers north-facing slopes especially in drier locations. Madrone is a particularly beautiful plant, but it grows very slowly in the southern, drier part of its range, where it typically grows to only 25 feet. In the northern, moister part of its range, it can grow quickly to 100 feet.

It is found on the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to California - but also scattered on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It becomes rare south of Santa Barbara County, with isolated stands south to Palomar Mountain, San Diego County and northern Baja California, Mexico.

It is common to see madrones of about 10-25 meters in height, but, in the right conditions, the trees reach up to 30 meter. In best conditions, a madrone can also reach a thickness of 5-8 feet at its trunk, much like an oak tree.

The leaves are thick, oval, 7-15 centimeter long and 4-8 centimeter broad, and arranged spirally; they are glossy dark green above and a lighter, more grayish green beneath, with an entire margin. The leaves brown during the fall season and detach from the branches.

Pacific madrone seeds are dispersed largely by birds but also by mule deer, rodents, and gravity; robins, starlings, band-tailed pigeons feast on the ripe berries and subsequently disperse the seeds as they move about.

Arceuthobium americanum is a species of dwarf mistletoe known as American dwarf mistletoe and lodgepole-pine dwarf mistletoe. It is a common plant of western North America where it lives in high elevation pine forests. It is a parasitic plant which lives upon the Lodgepole Pine, particularly the subspecies Pinus contortus ssp. murrayana, the Tamarack Pine. This pine subspecies is most common in the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada. The American dwarf mistletoe is a yellow-green coral-shaped structure above the surface of the tree's bark, while most of the parasite is beneath the bark. The seeds mature in late summer and disperse to nearby trees. This species has been found to explosively-disperse its seeds through thermogenesis. The parasitic plant is dioecious, meaning that it has separate male and female parts. Studies of pine needles from infected trees have shown decreased starch content in the needles of infected trees. Furthermore, differences have been found in the positioning of the vascular bundles between female infected pine trees and male infected pine trees.

Arceuthobium campylopodum is a species of dwarf mistletoe known as western dwarf mistletoe. It is native to the low to moderate elevation coniferous forests of western North America. It is a common parasite of several species of pine tree, including Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, and Coulter Pine. The dwarf mistletoe is a greenish-yellow structure above the bark of the tree, while most of the plant is beneath the bark. Seeds mature during the fall and disperse to nearby trees. Test 1

Arceuthobium douglasii is a species of dwarf mistletoe known as Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Texas to California, where it lives in forest and woodland as a parasite. It is found mostly on Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees but occasionally on fir (Abies spp. ) as well. This is a greenish shrub which is visible as a network of scaly stems extending above the bark of its host tree. Most of the mistletoe is located inside the host tree, attached to it via haustoria, which tap the tree for water and nutrients. The leaves of the mistletoe are reduced to scales on its surface. It is dioecious, with male and female mistletoe plants producing spikes of staminate and pistillate flowers, respectively. The fruit is a sticky berry a few millimeters long which explodes to disperse the seeds it contains several meters away from the parent plant and its host tree.

Austin Griffiths Manzanita (Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffiths') is a large evergreen shrub in the Heath family (Ericaceae). It is a hybrid between A. densiflora 'Sentinel' and A. manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'. It was introduced in the 1980's by Native Sons Nursery in memory of conservationist and naturalist Austin P. Griffiths.

The bark is maroon to dark red, with dark red stems, glossy sage-green foliage, and large clusters of of pale soft pink flowers. One of the earliest blooming manzanitas in early winter, it provides a valuable nectar source for hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. The berries are consumed by many mammals, and are also a food source for Indigenous Peoples.

The natural habitats for manzanitas are chaparral and openings in oak woodlands, which provide dry, sunny locations with excellent drainage.

This manzanita is striking as a specimen or informal hedge. Although it is a large shrub, it can be shaped and grown as a small tree. It prefers a sandy loam soil but does well in clay as long as it doesn't stand in water. More garden tolerant than 'Dr. Hurd', 'Austin Griffiths' accepts occasional irrigation but is exceptionally drought tolerant once established.

Howard McMinn Manzanita (Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn') is an evergreen shrub in the Heath family (Ericaceae). One of the last manzanitas to bloom, this medium-sized, fine-textured shrub has small leaves and tiny pink flowers that appear in late winter through spring. As it matures it will open up and reveal more of it's twisting, red colored branches.

It is a popular choice for gardens due to its tolerance for different soils, summer watering, pruning, and shearing. Combine with other species of manzanitas for a long bloom season. Howard McMinn is tolerant of different types of soils, however, waterlogged soils should be avoided. Stop irrigating after it is established; generally after one or two years. Extra irrigation in summer will result in a short-lived shrub. Prune in fall to remove dead or dying wood, or to improve the shape. Howard McMinn takes shearing well and can be used for a hedge. Plant in full sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade if planted inland. Although manzanitas are naturally found in chaparral or open woodlands, this cultivar is one of the most tolerant of garden conditions.

Moths, hummingbirds, butterflies are attracted to the flowers, and animals eat the berries. Deer may eat the berries but generally leave the plant alone. The fruits are also edible for people. Traditionally they were dried and ground for a type of granulated sugar. They were also used to make cider. Manzanita is spanish for little apple, and the fruits do indeed resemble little apples.

Arctostaphylos andersonii (Santa Cruz Manzanita) is an endangered species of Arctostaphylos, limited in geography to the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. It grows in openings in forest below 700 meter. It is a woody shrub 2-5 meter high, which can resemble a small tree. The 4-7 centimeter smooth leaf blades have serrated edges and deeply lobed bases. It flowers February through May. The fruit is small (2-8 millimeter) and sticky.

Arctostaphylos auriculata (Mount Diablo Manzanita) is an endangered species of Arctostaphylos, limited in geography to the area surrounding Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County, California. It is a woody shrub 1-4.5 meter high with serpentine, glandless stems covered in white hair. The short [1.5-4.5 centimeter], silvery leaves overlap and have deeply lobed bases. It flowers densely in white February through May. The fruit is also hairy and small (5-10 millimeter). Arctostaphylos auriculata 'Diablo Blush' is a popular nursery selection of this plant.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected from species in east san Francisco Bay Area (Mount Diablo and vicinity).